Misconceptions associated with being an Event Management Student.

Misconceptions about event management courses are something that event students have to deal with on a daily basis. When I first started studying my course in 2010 there were a lot of time where I felt I had to justify why I had decided to do an events degree; I was trying to explain to family, friends, neighbours and even strangers that in fact what I was doing was a ‘real’ thing & yes it will lead to a career at the end.

Now the two most common comments events students receive are, events is an ‘easy’ degree and ‘oh, you’re doing a degree in party planning!’ I am not totally sure where these two misconceptions have originally come from, but in the four years i’ve been studying I have heard these both countless times. So lets clear a few things up!

I cannot deny that event students do spend less time in lectures and seminars than students getting a degree in English or Science but that doesn’t mean the degree is easy. We still write a lot of academic essays, undertake exams and write a dissertation, and alongside that we are expected to undertake continuous internships, work experience and participate in heaps of volunteering.

I wouldn’t say working a normal working week and then often working long event days over the weekend is easy, just like I wouldn’t say writing 3 academic essays is an easy feat!

Okay lets clear this one up. The events industry encompasses many different areas from conferences right through to entertainment events, which can include parties along with weddings, awards shows & concerts. But putting on these entertainment events is not as simple as just renting a venues, getting alcohol and inviting people & NO if you have planned a friends/your kids/school leavers parties that does not mean you can automatically be an events manger. Events management teaches us the practicalities of logistically putting on these events as well as learning to understand the elements that come before & after.

The thing is these two comments are just misconceptions, exaggerations and false impressions which after a while will go away or you’ll just let it wash over you. Because those family, friends, neighbours and strangers will start to see the events you work on, the lack of free weekends you have & you will be able to say whole heartedly why you decided to study events management.

So to all those people who still thinks event management students are just people who only like to party, drink and socialise with celebrities I would say think again! Events Management is more than party planning and it is more than just an ‘academic’ subject!!

“Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event. Post-event analysis and ensuring a return on investment have become significant drivers for the event industry”

What are the most comment misconceptions associated with your degree/job? Have you had to deal with the above two comments whilst working in events?

Also there are going to be a few updated you can see on the blog, the most obvious being the comment section. I have now moved over to disqus as it allows me to reply to comments easier & for you to see when and what I have replied. The other thing is that the about page has been updated & contains information about the blog & myself together on one page 🙂

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suzymarie56

It’s so annoying when people say you’re doing an easy degree! It happens a lot with Sociology which is what I did for my undergraduate, but if you’re going to be good at it then it’s really difficult! Then I did Women’s Studies for my Masters and people just thought it was a completely pointless non-degree and ALWAYS pulled a face when I told them what I was doing. 68,000 words later, they can shove off haha!! Least we know we’re rocking it! 🙂

It is the worst thing! No degree is ‘easy’ because they allinvolve skills and knowledge in particular areas! Women’s Studies sounds fantastic& definitely not a pointless degree! I am very impressed with the 68,000words that is a BIG number!

And so right – we are rocking them!

I'm a Damn Student, What Do I Know? is an Events Blog for Event Students, Graduates & Industry Professionals.

Started in 2011 by Caitlin Kobrak the blog covers a range of topics that link to the events industry & studying.